ALBAS Overall Winner Niall Provan Rising star apprentice Niall Provan was the success story from last week’s ALBAS (Awards for Land-based and Aquaculture Skills), picking up a number of top accolades during the special virtual ceremony. Lantra Scotland’s annual awards evening celebrates the achievements of the country’s top land-based and aquaculture trainees, many of whom have continued to navigate new ways of working over the last year despite the challenges of the pandemic. Perthshire farmer and stand-up comedian, Jim Smith hosted the online event, alongside Lantra Scotland Director, Liz Barron-Majerik. The awards were officially opened by Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Kate Forbes, who praised the nominees for continuing to develop their skills and for helping to drive forward their rural communities, making them sustainable places to live, work and thrive.
Those agri-finalists are – Amy Lochhead, Shauna Murdie, Robbie Gray, Reiss Gordon and Ian Armstrong.
Amy Lochhead, aged 18 from North Berwick, has been doing a Modern Apprenticeship Level 3 in Agriculture at Carcant Farm, through Borders College. She said: “I was brought up in a seaside town far away from the rural life that I craved. Since I was young, I’ve had an affinity for all animals and had a need to care for them.”
Shauna Murdie, aged 20 from Jedburgh, has been doing a Modern Apprenticeship Level 3 in Agriculture at South Riccalton Farm, through Border College. She said: “I took the apprenticeship to develop my knowledge of the business and finance side of agriculture. This will prepare me for a management role, which I hope to achieve in in future.”